Microwave Termite Treatments

Function

• Microwave termite treatments capitalize on heat to kill the animals that live in the wooden portion of the structure. For a brief moment, the home's wood is heated to 120°F, making it impossible for termites and their eggs to survive. As the termites are virtually cooked inside the walls, the infestation ceases immediately and for good.

Benefits

• One of the main benefits is that professionals need to apply the microwave termite treatments only for a brief period of time. Within a matter of seconds, heat reaches the desired temperature and kills the termites. Best of all, you may use it to treat a topical problem, such as a column or portion of the roof, or you may use it for a full home treatment.

Nuts and Bolts of Microwave Termite Treatments

• Contact an experienced exterminator who specializes in microwave termite treatments. The professional inspects the structure and pinpoints termite damaged areas as well as locates the areas of current infestation. Thereafter, she sets up the magnetron and begins the microwaving treatment. Experts suggest the kill is more than 97 percent effective, with a 100 percent mortality rating for termite queens.

Misconceptions

• Different kinds of termites may inhabit your home. It is a common misconception that termites are good candidates for extermination through microwave termite treatments. For example, while the microwave treatment works great for the termites inside your walls, those termites whose nests are subterraneous are likely not as affected by the microwaves. The exterminator uses poison to control this kind of infestation.

Expert Insight

• It is crucial to demand a thorough inspection of the home and the grounds right outside it. If your home contains nests of two or more different termite species, it pays to have a complete workup done of your property. In some cases, this involves drilling holes into your walls and also into the ground. These are easily patched up, and the efforts made in diagnosing the extent of the infestation will serve you well as you hope to rid your home entirely of the pests. The University of California at Davis advises that microwave treatments applied to properly located infestations yield 89 percent to 98 percent efficacy.